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Monthly Archives: June 2018

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we boarded the ferry in late afternoon headed north, the hot sun bearing down on our backs in the concrete heat.the boat was stuffy and musty, the air seeming to circulate only every so often.still though, the views of the islands couldn’t be beat.

after stopping in Mjet, Korcula (pictured), Milna, and Bol, we finally port in Split.

just a short walk through the town center found us in our room at the Piazza Heritage Hotel.a historical boutique on People’s Square, we had a perfect view of the clock tower and iron gate into Diocletian’s Palace.

(disclosure: morning photo)

since we arrived late, we rushed to dinner.luckily, we were surrounded by restaurants with beautiful fare, including this lovely trio of pates: scampi, chicken, and cuddlefish.

we awoke early to take an excursion to Hvar, aboard a luxury Catamaran run by a few young locals.

Summer Blues first anchored off the coast of Brac for a cool dip in the salty sea, and where we could wash the sweat from our dripping brows.the scenery was familiar, yet the rocks more white and brighter than in the islands to the south.no wonder ancient civilizations used her stones to build their empires.

her water was azure blue.

Hvar, bathed in lavender, is breezy and light and less busy than the other cities we visited.

founded in the 4th century by the Greeks, then later Romans, Byzantines, medieval Croatian Kings and Venetians, Hvar has been subject to many rule, including Austro-Hungarian.like all Croatian towns thus far, the town center is flanked by a cathedral off the main square.

narrow alleyways and high steps make up the stari grad (old town), where small museums, restaurants, and tributes to local men combine.still slightly conservative, the culture is much more influenced by the Romans and Italians than cities to the south.

at the highest point of Hvar is the Tvrdalj, the fortified residence of a local renaissance poet, built for townspeople for protection against pirates in 1514.

nightlife in Hvar is said to be busy, with yachts pulling in from all over the world to party.in fact, we arrived just in time to witness #yachtweek.luckily, we visited the island in early afternoon, and avoided drunken young adults sailing around the Adriatic.

headed back towards Split, the catamaran anchored off the coast of Pakleni Islands, and then Solta, for a much needed snack and cooling from the bright sun.

we found time to relax and enjoy the Adriatic Sea in ways we could not from our previous rocky beach and kayaking experiences. and the sommelier smiled.

headed back to Split, the crew set sail, turned up the music, and passed out the vodka.

we harbored in port late sunset, and scurried back to the room to shower off the salt from our skin.

a late night dinner of grilled octopus and prosciutto and truffle tagliatelle warmed our bellies and our hearts.

there is a beach walkway that circles Lapad, just west of the “grad” of Dubrovnik, which is inarguably small.

the sommelier and I walked to the local beach late one morning for an early lunch.many locals live in Lapad, as well as retired Europeans living large on the cheap.

mussels and cuttlefish and oysters are always on the menu in local cafes.fresh seafood is staple on the Dalmatian coast.

our resort was located just a bit further to the west, close to what is called “sunset beach” because of the magnificence of the Adriatic in this location.

the picturesque scenery of the salty sea, combined with a modern feel, and luxury amenities, won us over.

while undeniably fascinated with history, I am also keen to sunbathing and swimming, so of course you could find me lazing around at the rooftop pool.

beaches in Croatia are very beautiful, yet sharp, rocky, and somewhat slippery.

once past the algae laden rocks, however… totally worth it.

we took advantage of only one tour in Dubrovnik; the tourist industry being the largest employer in all of Croatia, we felt we should support the local economy.

strapping ourselves into life jackets with Adventure Dubrovnik, we climbed into flat bottomed kayaks for an evening workout.we circled city walls, ventured through the port, and then on to pooled caves.

taking breaks in the middle of the high salinity sea, we listened to our guide tell us of the history of the city, including Venetian attacks, earthquakes, and the Croatian war.

Lokrum, an island founded by Benedictine monks in the late 10th century, sits 600 meters from Dubrovnik, and houses a nature preserve. as payment for staying at the monastery, the monks would accept seedlings from the home country of the visitor, as a result, there are hundreds of species of trees inhabiting.plus, peacocks.

legend has it that the monks were kicked out when the Austro-Hungarian Archduke wanted to buy the island for his new bride.angered and longing for their peaceful monasterial life, the monks placed a curse on the island.all who have owned the island since have come to peril.

kayaking around the white rocked shoreline at twilight, we could see the swallows flying into their caved nests.

worn and wearied after a three hour journey, we made it back to Dubrovnik just in time to take in the sunset.

by the time we reached our room, just a glint of light lingered in the sky. Dubrovnik, in all her majesty, has stolen our hearts.

a working mom with a penchant for good eats. princess-fied. married to a sommelier, am always looking for a tasty wine with value. committed to eating well, drinking well, and living well. native texan. traveler.